Changed churches and never thought I’d get involved
again.I thought I’d just do whatever
God asked me to do… on my own. But I know (and always knew) we don’t do things
for God alone.He is the healer of our
hearts, and the redeemer of all things. There were parts of 2016 reminded me of what happens when I try to
do things in my own strength, and parts of it brought glory to God as I
followed Him.

We now live in Dearborn and our Lincoln Park home is no
longer ours. It all started with a house that cost $13000 in East English
Village…a lot of houses, tears, and
emotions later, we ended up in our current home, and I can’t help but laugh
when I think, God knew.And each step in
the process was to learn, and to recognize His goodness.

We also got a dog.Cookie.A rescue.Who knew you could love a dog this much?Its crazy to me.Just in case you’re wondering, this did not
make me a dog person, I love our dog.LOL

I started a new job at a new company, and I LOVE it.

I look back in lessons in community gardens, soccer fields,
hugs, tears, words, and love.

I can’t imagine this life without love.On days when I think I can’t go on, love
carries me through.I am thankful for
prayers and hard days, and the happy ones.

I can’t help but end this year thankful.

I will be home tonight, doing laundry, getting the house
ready for some people to come over for lunch after church.The house is quiet, with the sound of washing
machine is humming.I am thankful.

I am thankful for dreams I didn’t even realize that came
true. I am thankful for serving opportunities that never end.I am thankful for laughter, and the good and
the bad tears. I am thankful for new opportunities.

I am thankful for a God in Heaven who loves me.I am thankful for a God that pursues my
heart, and that every day I fall more in love with Him.I am thankful that the moment I think I can’t
love Him anymore or feel more loved by Him, it seems He shows up and blows me
away with a love that is bigger than before.

Friday, December 30, 2016

War, not peace, produces virtue. War, not peace, purges vice. War, and preparation for war, call forth all that is noble and honorable in a man. It unites him with his brothers and binds them in selfless love, eradicating in the crucible of necessity all which is base and ignoble. There in the holy mill of murder the meanest of men may seek and find that part of himself, concealed beneath the corrupt, which shines forth brilliant and virtuous, worthy of honor before the gods. Do not despise war, my young friend, nor delude yourself that mercy and compassion are virtues superior to andreia, to manly valor.
Steven Pressfield, Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae

I heard this quote today. I thought about all the young lives that may not make it out of a dangerous city. Lack of education, sex trafficking, gangs, death, pride, and drugs.

I thought about our need to make a difference in the lives of those in generations coming up. How much they need us. How much we all need each other.

I think about how there is only one way to win against injustice... to fight it. To fight against it with prayer, and love, and doing something. It's not ok to wait for someone else to do something, because we are someone else's someone else.

I believe that 2017 is going to be a year of change. Only I can determine if the world around me will have a change for the better.

Some days it might feel like war, and that we can't go on, and some days we will run with great excitement towards our goal with great expectation of things to come!

I'm dreaming about great things, a bigger garden, the soccer field, new beginnings, a love of a lifetime, and contagious joy.

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Well my dear friends, Christmas Eve is upon us! The last of my baking is in the oven. Cheesecakes for tonight and tomorrow with friends.

Yesterday was not the best if days and with the presents that needed to be wrapped and the cookies & cheesecake. The house was crazy because we have been so busy... and needed to go to the grocery store for groceries for one of my favorite families! I decided that is not how i wanted to spend the holiday feeling. So I started cleaning the house, gave a few gifts, and felt better!!!

The presents were soon wrapped and the grocery store conquered! I decided to go to bed (because I was all kinds of exhausted) and get up early to bake!

I'm ready! After So many celebrations this week, I'm ready to settle in with my family tonight, and breakfast in the morning, and then to have a quiet dinner tomorrow.

What a sweet time I've had this Christmas season. Snuggles, cooking for others, serving with my friends, serving my friends, wrapping presents with great expectations of them opening them, baking a mountain of cookies for my family.

Monday, December 19, 2016

You may not know because for the most part I try to remain positive, no point in complaining life is too good for that, but it's been a rough couple months, especially November, I could have just eliminated that month :/

I was emotionally eating, couldn't get motivated to get "it" together and with the holidays fast approaching, I knew I needed help!! I prayed and asked God to bring me someone to help.

Enter stage left, my friend Amanda! It's been such a huge blessing for me to get back on track, accountability, menu plans, exercise plans! It's gotten me back on track taking care of myself!

I have found some great new workout "videos" online, even found one that is just 10 minutes that gets my blood pumping! It's been really great because I can do them at home when I have the time.

The holiday season is here and I feel great!! Filling my body with good stuff, veggies, chicken, fresh food has been so good!! I made over 600 cookies the other day and actually didn't want any because I knew eating that sugar would send me into a terrible spiral. Not worth it!! And make me sluggish!

I've given myself permission to take care of me, not just everyone else. If there is nothing in me, what will I have to give? nobody likes sloppy seconds! I have to be my best me to love and serve everyone the way they deserve, otherwise, I don't serve cheerfully.

I'm so thankful to be taking care of myself so I can take care of others!!! It's a busy and great holiday serving others!

Monday, December 12, 2016

I scheduled this trip to Colorado and when the time came to take the trip I wondered about the timing! What was I thinking??

And it worked out to be perfect timing!!! I spent some great time with friends! Im rested and ready to take on the holidays!

I had the best time with my friends and the boys! It was what my heart needed after a long and emotional (not the good kind of emotions). My heart was filled with love and laughter! My body got to sleep when needed!

I started today a 12 day FIT-MAS group and I feel ready to start the challenge! It won't be easy, but it's time, my heart is ready. It is not about food for me, it's about my heart really!

I'm ready for the holidays! They are coming ready or not! You've got to stay ready so you don't have to get ready!

Sunday, December 11, 2016

You'd think that making this happen would not be stressful but it was. Anyone can tell you, especially my daughter, decorating is not my gift. When it comes to big meals, all I really care is that it tastes good. Although, I do appreciate beautiful decorations, it's just not my "thing"

Knowing potentially 100s of people will walk past it, it was important to me that it was welcoming. One thing I learned cleaning the church (a lesson God taught me through serving) is that it's important that a church be clean and welcoming. Normally When I have guests to my home, i clean up (at least a little), especially if i know they are coming. Church is the same. It is often over looked and unappreciated but it is so very important. So doing this window was important and I had to work really hard.

Isn't it crazy how some things are so easy for some people and so hard for others? But it's good that we get to try new things to make us better and maybe we will love the new thing we tried because we weren't afraid to fail.

We had a great team of light stringers and tree fluffers, and lots of glitter and very little budget.

This morning I walked in, and I have to say, I really thought it was beautiful. I was proud, and let me tell you, I prayed a lot through it, "God please dont let me mess this up, and let my work be honoring and beautiful for You" and I think it's beautiful.

Friday, December 09, 2016

I watched my facebook movie (that I didn't post) and thought mine might need to be 20 minutes. It was a great year filled with it's fair share of challenges.

I certainly didnt travel as much as I'm used to, which is kind of funny because I'm on my third trip to Colorado today in 2016.

Colorado
Tennessee (twice)
Up North

I thought it was gonna be my year back to NYC, and I thought for sure I'd travel to a state I'd never been to. I was lucky escape a work trip to Germany :) but instead we got a new house :) and a lots of work to go with it. It was way more work than NYC but way way better! To live in a safe home, in a great neighborhood, has been the most incredible blessing!

I literally fed 100s and 100s of people! That makes my heart so happy!

There were some moments of really really hard. Some truly moments when I've grabbed onto God with both hands and pleaded "please don't let me go". I trusted and prayed. I've got to say the growth has brought me joy and love, and grace to give away because I've received it.

Thursday, December 08, 2016

I started a new job in September.Not only at a new place, but a new job.I had been doing my previous job for a long
time.I liked it.A lot.But I knew it was time for somethingdifferent.It was time to make
the step up to Manager.

Let’s face it, I am a doer.I like to “do”,I believe in
leading by example.

Coming to a new workplace is not an easy task.It can be hard to make new friends, it can be
hard to learn the culture of a workplace.It’s hard.I never understood until
in 2012 I left my employer at the time (that I LOVED) and went to a new
place.It was difficult to say the
least.This summer I had the opportunity
to do something new.I actually hate “new”,
if it were up to me, I’d stay doing the same thing, but… that’s not really how
we grow, so I go.A new place, a new
job, new people.UGH.This kind of thing brings me more anxiety
than I could ever even put to words.

But here I am almost two months later, sometimes struggling
with what to do or how to handle something, and I love it.I mean I LOVE IT!!!I ask questions (which helps me to remember
to be humble), I smile, I admit I need help, I try my best to lead in humility,
but mostly, I bring joy!

It’s a funny thing, all my experience, all my whatever, and
the thing that I think makes me most successful is that I really care and love
people.I listen, I laugh, and sometimes
I cry with them and for them.Yes, I
cry, because that’s who I am.

This Christmas season (and the holiday of my birthday, and
the others) I decorated our cubicle area, I got everyone stockings and have put
some kind of treat in them every day.Chocolate, cutie oranges, life savers, candy canes…it’s been fun.I even started the tradition of “elfing”people.

And today a woman in our office came over and thanked me for
her “elf” gift.Even though it wasn’t
me!HA!But I did start the whole thing!HEE HEE!She said “it’s so nice
to come to work and have things be so lively”.It’s been so fun to bring joy and love to the office.To bring a little bit of sunshine to our
crazy lives! (It's really Jesus but they might not know it)

There are a few times in my life I don’t feel like I was
born for this, it’s a struggle to not always fit in, and sometimes I feel like
I totally rock out where God placed me!I choose to focus on the days that I rock it out, to walk in obedience
of what God has called me to.Each step
leads me to where/what He has planned, even if the steps are hard.

home

I HATE SHOES!

Belle Isle

31 days

Brave Girl Boots

Picture

About Me

This blog is about me, well, not really not about me, it's about God's story in my oh-so-not-perfect life. I'm thankful for God's grace.
I'm a woman saved by grace. A single mom who is in love with Jesus and a beautiful daughter. I often stand in amazement of them both!
I have found a love in Jesus that I never thought there was. This love involves trust, and joy and feelings I never thought possible.
It's opened my heart to amazing things. It's made me more aware of the blessing around me.
He's amazing.